Bamusi ‘sorry’ to Mulanje people after Chaponda gets rude awakening

Government and the self-branded Citizens for the Protection of Mulanje Mountain (CPM) have agreed to start afresh in discussions on the Blantyre Water Board water project that broke chaos between government officials and citizens at Likhubula in Mulanje on Monday.

Bamusi: We have reached a consensus

Majeweta:Key issues should be addressed

Bamusi and CPM after the meeting

The chaos saw Minister of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development Hon. George Chaponda (MP) rudely blocked from visiting the proposed intake point at the foot of Mulanje Mountain.

A few days after the event which rose questions on the steps that government was treading towards initiation of the project, the government has started engaging various parties in the chaos to seek views on the way forward.

Representing the President at discussions that were held in Mulanje on Thursday afternoon, Presidential Advisor on Non-governmental Organizations Mabvuto Bamusi apologized to the citizens for government’s lack of consultation and failure to honor requests that the citizens made.

Among other things, the citizens through CPM are demanding that government initiates a quick replenishment of trees which were wantonly swept off in various key places on the Mountain, and that the people of Mulanje should be considered as first beneficiaries of the intended water project.

While faulting the citizens for the rude treatment on the Minister, Bamusi indicated that the two conditions put forward by the citizens were mutual interests between the President and the people.

“I can assure you that His Excellency the President Professor Arthur Petret Mutharika is the first Citizen for the Protection of Mulanje Mountain, because he takes issues of Mulanje Mountain conservation seriously; that is why since December 2015 he has been providing special protection to the Mountain through the deployment of Malawi Defense Force soldiers on it,” said Bamusi.

He added that while that was the case, the President is also concerned about water scarcity problems that are imprisoning many people in the country including in Mulanje district, hence the idea to bring the water project.

Commenting on a call for further peaceful deliberations made by the President through Bamusi, General Secretary for CPM David Majeweta said government had made a smart move, but further advised that any change of tune shall mean there is no more agreement.

He emphasized that there will be no tapping of water from Mulanje Mountain if the discussions were only a way of putting them to rest.

“We have agreed to forge ahead peacefully for the sake of development and we are ready to support government in every work that it intends to do on the Mountain just as long as they keep their promise to meet us half way on the issues we are raising,” said Majeweta.

Earlier on, Blantyre Water Board officials convened an emergency District Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday in which among other things the board disclosed that the Minister’s visit to the water tapping point on Monday was only a familiarization tour which was far from the initiation of ground work that the citizens alleged.

Asked to comment on the future of implementation of the project, the Presidential envoy said discussions would continue on the matter but he was able to see enough light at the end of the tunnel.

CPM claims that a distance of approximately 3 500 hectares that used to be covered in trees at Chambe basin, Sombani, Lichenya and other key areas that act as sources of water on the Mountain were literally stripped naked over the past few years.

Meanwhile the Blantyre Water Board has convened a Full Council meeting in Mulanje, with an aim of briefing political, religious and traditional leaders on the intended controversial water project.

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7 thoughts on “Bamusi ‘sorry’ to Mulanje people after Chaponda gets rude awakening”

Bravo the people of Mulanje! You don’t tolerate bullshit. You fought Welensky and his stupid Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland and won.In 1994 you gave the murderous MCP a red card.This time you have given the ruling DPP an electric shock.

Who cut down the tree from Mulanje Mountain? its you the same people of Mulanje. Remember Mulanje Conservation Trust was always busy confiscating timber and firewood from you at gun point lero mukunamizira kuti its them who cut down the trees. Enemies to national development. Mukanakhala Chigawo cha pakati tikanani ndinu a MCP koma poti MCP kumeneko Kulibe aaahhh kaya mkuti chaninso apa

I don’t trust this man either, I have not forgotten how he was in the forefront organising the July 20 demonstrations that led to the death of over 20 people. And barely two he was given a bun by being appointed as a senior officer for Nice

Mulanjeans and even people from the greater Phalombe: you MUST have a say on this issue. And there should be direct benefits to you too. These “rulers” think you are just drawers of water and hewer of wood! Asa.
The attitude of the Big Bwana Chaponda is plain unacceptable, in modern politics; even at the Village level. No bull dozing here. The times of top down rule were over a decade ago; This is 2016, abale.
The Mulanje and its subsets, like Mitchesi, have been denuded over the years; a reflection of dereliction of duty by District Councils, and the government, especially the Department of Forestry.
The time for reforestation, and overall repair is overdue. Don’t forget, it’s the people around the greater mountain that are primarily affected by the neglect, and criminal business undertakings like cutting the trees and lumbering. Not the people of Blantyre.

Way to go CPM! Government has no monopoly of wisdom in the 21st Century. We call this Network Governance, where collaboration with all stakeholders should be privileged. Public actors should not take the “authorizing environment” for granted. Proper consultations are imperative for maximization of public value.